'Tis the Season: Marching bands travel to holiday parades and bowl game parades

Many major events can be viewed on television or online

The holiday season is one of the most active travel periods for marching bands, with performance opportunities at holiday parades and events held in conjunction with college football bowl games.

If you're not lucky enough to be going on a band trip this year, or you didn't get prime tickets for the Rose Parade, you can at least catch some of the parades on television or online. Marching.com has compiled this guide to major 2019/2020 parade events along with television broadcast schedules.

Click any event name to view the roster of participating marching bands.

Magnificent Mile Lights Festival ParadeChicago, Illinois
Saturday, November 23, 2019, 5:30 PM (Central)
Television: Live coverage on ABC7 Chicago at 6:00 PM and rebroadcast across the country throughout the holiday season.
Look for five marching bands plus Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day ParadePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Thursday, November 28, 2019, 8:15 AM (Eastern)
Television: Live local coverage at 8:30 AM on 6ABC and online at 6abc.com, plus regional coverage on various stations.
Features 21 marching bands plus giant balloons and celebrities.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day ParadeNew York City
Thursday, November 28, 2019, 9:00 AM (Eastern)
Television: National telecast airs on NBC from 9 AM to Noon in all time zones. See real-time bonus coverage through a livestream at youtube.com/verizon from 8:30 AM to Noon (Eastern).
Look for 11 marching bands, including two gigantic bands from Western Carolina University and the Awesome Original Second Time Arounders.

Novant Health Thanksgiving Day ParadeCharlotte, North Carolina
Thursday, November 28, 2019, 9:00 AM (Eastern)
Television: Streamed live on the WBTV Facebook page at 9 AM. Airs on WBTV Channel 3 at 4PM.
Look for bands, floats, balloons and performances in the Southeast's largest Thanksgiving Day Parade.

H-E-B Thanksgiving Day ParadeHouston, Texas
Thursday, November 28, 2019, 9:00 AM (Central)
Television: Airs live on KHOU11 at 9 AM and repeats at 10 AM and 11 AM.
Look for seven high school, university and military bands plus 12 balloons.

Waikiki Holiday ParadeHonolulu, Hawaii
Friday, November 29, 2019, 7:00 PM (Hawaii)
No television coverage. Bands from the mainland join local bands from the islands for the oceanfront procession along torch-lit Kalakaua Avenue.

Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl ParadeSan Diego, California
Thursday, December 26, 2019, 3:00 PM (Pacific)
Television: Live coverage on Fox Sports San Diego.
Billed as America's largest balloon parade, look for more than 20 balloons along with marching bands and drill teams.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl ParadeAtlanta, Georgia
Saturday, December 28, 2019, 12:00 PM (Eastern)
No television coverage.
Look for high school and university marching bands plus cheerleaders, mascots and classic cars.